Gate-latch.



, Nb. 843,870. PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

J. CRAWFORD.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1906.

JIM CRAWFORD, OF PADEN, INDIAN TERRITORY.

GATE-=l.

ATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatensecl Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed August 9, 1906. Serial No. 329,809.

To (LU 1071,0717, it but concern.-

Be it known th Jnr CRAWFORD, a married man, citizen or he Ur d States, resid- 1 1 at Paden, Indian Territory, Creek Netion, Indian Territory, has invented certain new and useful lnprovem nts in Gate: Latches, of which the following is a specification.

T is invention relates to gate-latches, and prim rily designed to initprove the construction shown in my prior patent, No. 780,481, issued January 17, 1905.

It is furthermore designed to construct the latch so as to be applicable to either 1e right-hand or left-hand side of the gate with out requ' rl "n the latch.

Another object or is to prevent he latch trom sinking sidewise iroin the swinging deten't when the gate swells or slu inks.

these and other objects in view I I present invention consists in the combination and arrangcnent of parts, as will be hereinafter more iully dcsciibed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out i the appended cloirs, it being understood that changes'i he for n, proportion, size, and ninor do" its 1 y be it witlzin the scope oi the clain s without departing from the sp" '3 or saclificin any of the advant a es of 2 e invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device oi the present invention shown in readiness to be latched. Fig. 2 is a lront elevai ion oi he device latched. Fig. 3 is side elevation 'tl reof. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the blank from which the swinging detent is formed.

Like characters 0i reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures oi the drawings.

The present device includes a latch-bar or member 1, which has its upper edge toothed or notched, as at 2, and its front ex'treniity beveled douuiwardly and rearwardly, as at 3. For attaching this member to the gate-bar at the front end of the gate, such as shown at 4, it may be found convenient to provide the latch-bar with a lateral extension 5, having suitable openings forthe reception of fasten- 1 ings 6 to secure the latch t0 the gate in a subs'te izplly horizontal position projecting at rign angles to the gate.

Cooperating with the latch-bar is a detent 7, consisting of a flat metal plate having i ls upper end provided with a pair of longitudinal cleits to" 'ing a ce tral portion 8, which is tor ed into a finger piece, the other portions 01' L116 piate the opposite sides or L116 iingerqziece being sent to term aliiied eyes 9, through which is passed a suitable ias'tening 10, driven into the gate-post 11.

The swinging movement of the cetent is limited by a stop member 12, preferably a nail or the l-ke oriven into the gatepost beneath and in vertical aLnement with the pin 10. To limit the swing .g movement of the oetent in the other oirection, a relatively short pin 13 is oriven into the gateqxost in front of the detent. The lower free end of the c etent is cut away or terminated short of the stop member 12 and is proviced at opposite cages with tle izenoing projections 14 to engage the stop and limit the swinging movement of the cetent in one drection.

When the gate is swung at closed position, the latch-bar l strikes the cetent and wipes past its lower efge until the gate-bar strikes the members 10 and 12, whereupon the gate w-ll be latched, for the reason that the free ego of the eletent engages the notched or toothed upper e; go of the latch and prevents the letter from being withe rawn from the detent. The latch may be released by pressing upon the -linger-piece 8, so as to lift the detent out of engagement with the latch, whereupon the gate may be opened. It will now be un derstood that the stop 13 is intended to prevent overturning ot' the detent when the latter is release from the latch.

From the foregoing cescription it will be seen that the present latch is very simple and inexpensive and at the same b21116 e'l'licient for the purpose des ned. By locating the fin er-piece substantially midway between the opposite edges of the detent the latter may be agoplled to the right-hand side and also the left-hand side of the gate without requiring any alteration of the latch, thereby avoiding the necessity of manufacturing the latch in rights and lefts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A gate-latch comprising a latch member having means for connection with agate, a swinging cetent provided with a pair of incisions intersecting its upper edge and dividing the same into tongues, the terminal tongues being bent into eyes and the interme iate tongue constituting a tingenpiece, a fastening passing through the eyes and upon which the detent is adapted to swing, and a IOC IIC

stop for limiting the swinging movement of the latch.

2. A gate-latch comprising a latch-bar having means for connection with the gate, a swinging detent having a finger-niece rising from its upper efge substantially midway between its operating eilges, there being bearing-eyes at opposite sides of the finger-piece, a bearing element upon which the eyes are mountea, the lower free enfi of the detent being provided with a pair of spaeecl 5 e'penrling pro eet1ons, a stop alinecl vertically below i the bearing and. in the path of the projections, another stop in front of the detent and rijaeent the bearing, the latch being adapted 15 to engage the lower free eclge ofthe detent between the projections thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

